Bucket List is Complete!

4:08:16

Now I am DONE - my bucket list is complete! lol!

Tough Course!

Boston is amazing!

Crowd support, race organization, friendly people everywhere.

Heading into the race I had a great feeling.  I was well aware that I had not trained like I normally would, but I did manage to get my mileage up.  I felt that maybe I could pull off a good race, and hoped maybe a really good race.  As the big day arrived I was feeling better and better about the day.  The predicted weather was great.  I was strong and ready!

Monday - 10:30 start

Weather is GREAT!

I am ready to RACE!

I started out in control and determined NOT to go out fast.

Unexpected 1

For me, I was surprised how quickly we made it to the first uphill.  

The uphills kept coming and coming.

Unexpected 2

I had planned to run on the left when I made it to Wellesley.  I was warned it was crazy and hey - I don't need "a kiss from the girls."  As I approached, it was amazing.  I did start toward the left, but before I made it through, I was on the right side,  high-fiving the girls as I passed.  All of the screaming was amazing and it actually gave me chill bumps.  

Wasn't expecting that!

Thanks Wellesley Girls - keep the tradition going.

Also - I thought this section, and the town was the prettiest section of the course.

Unexpected 3

Prior to mile 16 - the uphills are wearing on me.  

Miles 14 and 15 - already falling off the pace a little - 9:13, 9:22

Yikes!

Miles 16 - 21 were tough.  Because I was already getting fatigued, I went into these miles just focusing on the mile at hand.

 16 - 9:00

17 - 9:36

18 - 9:50

19 - 9:20

20 - 9:56

21 - 10:57 come on - that's riduculous!

As I am just about to call it a day (not as in quit, but as in - jog it in, best I can), I finally make it to the top.  I am still feeling like I am done.  At this point someone calls my name. (I had put my name on my race number, but didn't realize it would be so crowded that spectators couldn't see it most of the time because of the runners right in front of me.  I did have a few open areas where people called my name)

So, I am at the top of heartbreak hill, about to call it a day, and I hear Ginny, I kind of glance and wave, and to my surprise it's my pumpkin.

He had said he was not going to try to find his way out on the course to try to find me.

So he takes a few shots of me.

(I'm in yellow with the black visor)

 Unexpected 4

Hello Honey!

So I head down heartbreak hill revived.

As Chad sprinted up ahead to get the next shot, it was great to see him.  It was also great to see that he was working a little, to get ahead of me in time to take another shot.  (he is a "real runner" but hasn't been running recently)

At one point he screams - "you're killing me"

That was FUNNY!

(yes his - less than half mile - run hurt - yea right - lol :)

He also screams the scoop about Ryan Hall coming in 4th place.

So -  the revival - it was short lived - but nice.  

Thanks Chad - love ya!

22 - 9:18

23- 9:50 

24 - 10:06 come on - finish it

25 - 9:56

26 - 10:35 dying :(

.46 4:18 

As I am FINALLY finished and walking on Boylston Street.  I look up at the city buildings, exhausted,  and again I am thinking how happy and thankful I am that I finally made it to Boston.  

I DID IT!   

It was an amazing day.  

Did I run as fast as I wanted - well - 

I came close  - 

and today - that is close enough!

  OK - now - I am slightly mad at all of my local friends and blogger friends who have previously run this marathon.  Uhhhh, you could have warned me!  It's like being pregnant, if woman were told exactly what they will go through during pregnancy - no one would get pregnant.  So it's a dirty little secret that you find out about during the process.  Shame on all of you for leaving me in the dark, to find out during the miles of the Boston marathon.

Seriously, I know some, or most of you, do not consider this a tough course, but I am a wimp, and for me, it was 26.2 miles of hills.  For me the uphills are hard.  Physically and mentally I was prepared for 5 tough miles (16-21), but I was not ready for the toll that the continual uphills would take.   So I will take my 4:08, and call it a day.  I went into this one thinking 4:00 would be my very best, and I hoped 4:10 would be my worst.  I also thought I was running the tangents, although I knew I missed a few because I couldn't see which way the next turn was, and I did divert just a little to "high five" at Wellsley, but I thought I had run a decent tangent run.  Not so much - I ended up at 26.46.  

Be WARNED!  This course is constantly turning - right and left curves, and up and down hills.

Next blog will be about how I was an "air head" all weekend.